Points classification
Bicycle racing award type
The points classification is a secondary award category in road bicycle racing. Points are given for high finishes and, in some cases, for winning sprints at certain places along the route, most often called intermediate sprints. The points classification is the top prize for many cycling sprinters and is often known as the sprint classification; however, in some stage races these classifications are based on different criteria.
The points classification is arguably the second most important title and cycling jersey to win at a cycling stage race behind the general classification, which is the winner of the event by overall time.
01Points classification winners of the Grand Tours
Winners by year
| Legend | |
|---|---|
| Rider also won General classification | |
| Rider also won General and Mountains classification | |
A. a Alessandro Petacchi was the Points leader but tested positive for elevated levels of salbutamol, resulting in a suspension and forfeiture of all results during the event. No alternate winner was declared.
Most points jerseys
| Rank | Rider | Total | Giro | Tour | Vuelta |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Erik Zabel[i] | 9 | , | 6 (1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001) | 3 (2002, 2003, 2004) |
| 2 | Sean Kelly | 8 | , | 4 (1982, 1983, 1985, 1989) | 4 (1980, 1985, 1986, 1988) |
| Peter Sagan | 8 | 1 (2021) | 7 (2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2018, 2019) | , | |
| 4 | Laurent Jalabert | 7 | 1 (1999) | 2 (1992, 1995) | 4 (1994, 1995, 1996, 1997) |
| 5 | Eddy Merckx | 6 | 2 (1968, 1973) | 3 (1969, 1971, 1972) | 1 (1973) |
| 6 | Djamolidine Abdoujaparov | 5 | 1 (1994) | 3 (1991, 1993, 1994) | 1 (1992) |
| Jan Janssen | 5 | , | 3 (1964, 1965, 1967) | 2 (1967, 1968) | |
| 8 | Mark Cavendish | 4 | 1 (2013) | 2 (2011, 2021) | 1 (2010) |
| Freddy Maertens | 4 | , | 3 (1976, 1978, 1981) | 1 (1977) | |
| Francesco Moser | 4 | 4 (1976, 1977, 1978, 1982) | , | , | |
| Giuseppe Saronni | 4 | 4 (1979, 1980, 1981, 1983) | , | , | |
| Alejandro Valverde | 4 | , | , | 4 (2012, 2013, 2015, 2018) | |
| Mads Pedersen | 4 | 1 (2025) | 1 (2026) | 2 (2022, 2025) |
i In 2013, Zabel admitted to taking banned substances from 1996 to 2003, including EPO and the steroid hormone cortisone.
Career triples
Winning the points classification in each of the three Grand Tours during a cyclist's career is a significant accomplishment. The Tour/Giro/Vuelta triple has been achieved by six riders:
| Rider | Total | Giro | Tour | Vuelta |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eddy Merckx (BEL) | 6 | 2 (1968, 1973) | 3 (1969, 1971, 1972) | 1 (1973) |
| Djamolidine Abdoujaparov (UZB) | 5 | 1 (1994) | 3 (1991, 1993, 1994) | 1 (1992) |
| Laurent Jalabert (FRA) | 7 | 1 (1999) | 2 (1992, 1995) | 4 (1994, 1995, 1996, 1997) |
| Alessandro Petacchi (ITA) | 3 | 1 (2004) | 1 (2010) | 1 (2005) |
| Mark Cavendish (GBR) | 4 | 1 (2013) | 2 (2011, 2021) | 1 (2010) |
| Mads Pedersen (DEN) | 4 | 1 (2025) | 1 (2026) | 2 (2022, 2025) |
Natural doubles
Winning the points classification in two Grand Tours in a single year is a rare feat.
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02Days leading classification
In previous tours, sometimes a stage was broken in two (or three). "Days" column gives the number of times the cyclist was a classification leader at the end of the day. Numbers in brackets include split stages.
after the end of 2026 Tour de France
| Legend | |
|---|---|
| Current records | |
| Rider was leading in all Grand Tours | |
| Rank | Rider | Days | Leading span | Giro | Tour | Vuelta |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Peter Sagan | 149 | 2011-2021 | 14 | 130 | 5 |
| 2 | Sean Kelly | 148 (151) | 1979-1989 | 0 | 65 (67) | 83 (84) |
| 3 | Erik Zabel | 141 (142) | 1996-2007 | 0 | 88 (89) | 53 |
| 4 | Laurent Jalabert | 105 | 1990-1999 | 2 | 25 | 78 |
| 5 | Freddy Maertens | 93 (102) | 1976-1981 | 9 (12) | 65 (70) | 19 (20) |
| 6 | Eddy Merckx | 84 (91) | 1968-1974 (1975) | 51 (52) | 30 (35) | 3 (4) |
| 7 | Mark Cavendish | 81 | 2009-2021 | 23 | 43 | 15 |
| 8 | Roger De Vlaeminck | 76 (81) | 1969-1984 | 67 (71) | 8 (9) | 1 |
| 9 | Giuseppe Saronni | 74 (76) | 1978-1985 | 74 (76) | 0 | 0 |
| 10 | / Djamolidine Abdoujaparov | 73 | 1991-1995 | 3 | 54 | 16 |
| 11 | Mads Pedersen | 71 | 2022-2026 | 21 | 18 | 32 |
Six other riders were leading points classification in all three Grand Tours: Rudi Altig, Marino Basso, Francesco Moser, Thierry Marie, Alessandro Petacchi and André Greipel. Petacchi is the sole cyclist that did this in one season (2003).
The rider with the most Grand Tour days at the top of the classification in a single calendar year is Mads Pedersen - 39 in 2025.
Sources and credits
This article is adapted from the Wikipedia article “Points classification”, written by its contributors and licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Fathomly has changed the layout, removed citation markers, navigation and maintenance notices, and adjusted punctuation. This adapted version is shared under the same license. For references, see the original article.
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